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‘Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL INTERVIEW WITH Mr. BERTHA who was an official of the National JOHN BERTHA Tabor Relations Board and who hand the details of the ~ ction conducted in Springfield, Illinois to determine who would be the bargaining Acent for the Mine B Coal Company was located at Peoria, Illinois and interviewed by Special Agent Ga September 16, 1943. t Mr. BERTHS is presently working at _— He is quite willing to testily 1or ene wovernmen y) 1s case provided he is subpoenaed. Mr, BERTHA-statedthat-he-end— ¥ LE. BAJORK worked on the Mine B case together and that from the very cubeset hey tert teneiderable difficulty in petting action from the National Labor Board in Washington particularly with reference to certifying an election. When they came to Springfield they fourd a very tense situation and as such felt that it should be dealt with immediately. Mir. BERTHA stated that the election of December 15, 1937 was conducted fairly in every respect. He advised that he prided himself upon the way that he conducted his elections as a National Labor Board representative and that even after he had pone into private industry various unions had requested him to came and conduct elections. Mr. BERTHA had a very clear recollection of the dif "culties under which he worked and of the events which occurred at that time. He stated that the United Mine Workers made several charges alleging the election was unfain First, that the election was conducted in a vicinity where liquor was available. Second, that people voted who were not on the payroll of the Mine B Commany. Third, that the United Mine Workers were not represented in the election. Fourth, that seven men who were under indictment and being tried in mine bombing cases were not eligible to vote. Fifth, that there was coercion. In answer to these charges Mr. BERTHA stated that it would have been difficult to lecate an election place in Springfield which would not be near some liquor dispensing store. They were very careful to pick a place that would be absolutely neutra] due to the strong feeling on both sides, and the Armory was selected as the most likely place. The Armory was also selected because it was felt that if it were held on government property there would be Ie $s chance for any violence. Even then the mayor of Springfield who was very conceryed over the situation stated that he woulc hold Mr. BERTHA responsible for any destruction of property in the Amory. Relative to the persons who voted in the election ire BERTHA stated that the payroll was certified by the employer himself and that this. =< contention was baseless. The United Mine Workers were not repres a. in the election because of their own action, by refusing to Ps x4 Among the charges brought by the United Mine Workers was‘ Rational labor Board representatives displayed favoritism towar = 680 -